Saudi Arabia said on Monday that its relationship with the United Arab Emirates remains “vital” for regional stability, even as tensions have surfaced between the two Gulf allies over developments in war-torn Yemen.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan stressed the importance of maintaining strong ties with Abu Dhabi following the UAE’s decision to withdraw completely from Yemen. Speaking at a joint news conference in Warsaw with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, Prince Faisal said the move was necessary to preserve bilateral relations.
“The UAE has decided to withdraw from Yemen completely, and I believe this is essential for the continuation of strong relations with the UAE,” he said. He added that close cooperation between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi remains a cornerstone of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), describing positive relations between the two countries as “fundamental” to regional security. His remarks were cited by Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television.
The UAE did not immediately comment on the Saudi minister’s statements.
The comments follow a rare public rift between the two long-time partners over the role of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), Yemen’s main separatist group. Last month, STC forces seized control of the eastern Yemeni provinces of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra, which lie close to the Saudi border.
Riyadh accused Abu Dhabi of encouraging the STC to expand its military operations in the area, warning that such moves threatened Saudi security interests along its southern frontier. The UAE firmly denied the allegations, rejecting claims that it had directed or supported the offensive.
Backed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition, forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognised government launched a counteroffensive and succeeded in recapturing the two provinces earlier this month. Shortly afterwards, the UAE announced the withdrawal of all its forces from Yemen, effectively ending its military mission in the country.
The confrontation highlighted one of the most serious divisions within the anti-Houthi alliance in years, exposing differing priorities among Yemen’s backers. While Saudi Arabia has focused on securing its borders and restoring the central government’s authority, the UAE has long supported southern factions, including the STC.
Despite the tensions, Saudi officials have signalled that they are keen to prevent the dispute from undermining broader Gulf unity, underscoring the strategic importance of Saudi-UAE relations amid ongoing regional instability.
